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Monogamy and Its Alternatives -- Pair-Bonding, Ethics, and Cultures of Sexuality in the 21st Century

CE Hours 3

About this live event

This course reviews some of the basic patterns of human pair-bonding and the development of “marriage” in relation to monogamy and its alternatives – including polyamory and polygamy -- in the human past and present. Though sexual choice and agency have always been significant in human evolution, cultural and individual norms and ethics have also played important roles. In the 21st century, however, individual choice and agency in sexual pairing are valorized and extended in new ways. And yet, Western and religious views of monogamy and marriage continue side by side with polyamory and other choices. In the mix, ethics and consensual communications become pivotal as human sexual interactions – including online live and virtual connections and erotica– expand. This course analyzes these developments while emphasizing the practical opportunities and ethics both of monogamous pair-bonding and its alternatives. The course is relevant for mental health practitioners and faith leaders who may be advising persons grappling with issues of sexual exploration and sexual identity.

Learning Objectives

  •  Define monogamy and its relationship to alternative non-monogamous forms of human sexuality.
  •  Explain the emotional meaning of sexual diversity within and outside of partnerships —monogamous or non-monogamous.
  •  Analyze monogamy and non-monogamy in relation to human pair-bonding and sexual diversity across human evolution, history, and culture.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Agenda

  • 1:00-1:15pm – Welcome and Introduction
  • 1:15-1:30pm – Real Dialogue in relation to sexual openness and sexual fidelity
  • 1:30-2:15pm – Pair-bonding, Rule-governed sexuality, and “marriage” in human evolution
  • 2:15-2:30pm – Break
  • 2:30-3:45pm – Modern monogamy, its stresses, and its alternatives
  • 3:45-4:00pm – Q & A

Live event Instructor(s)

  • Bruce M. Knauft, Ph.D.

    Bruce Knauft, PhD, is Samel Candler Dobbs Professor of Anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta. His main academic and intellectual focus has been diverse aspects of inter-subjective cultural dynamics in relationship to issues of power and constraint. Originally a rainforest anthropologist in Papua New Guinea, his initial research on shamanism, sorcery, ritual, sexuality, pariarchy and violence has expanded to work concerning polarization under postwar conflict conditions. During the past 15 years, Dr. Knauft’s research and personal interests have oriented toward Tibetan Buddhism and the intrasubjective and intersubjective dimensions of cultivating equanimity vis-vis afflictive emotions and interactions. These interests intersect with his interest in Real Dialogue, including training sessions he has attended under the direction of Polly Young-Eisendrath in Stowe, Vermont.

CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

  • Complete evaluation forms for the event
  • Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".

If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.

Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ce-go.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSEDSW)

    CE Learning Systems SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0060.

  • New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYSEDPSY)

    CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0016.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYSEDMFT)

    CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.

  • Joint Accreditation (JA)

    In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)

    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

CELS Grievance Policy

If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Tyler Gibson via confidential email to tyler@celearningsystems.com as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.

Technology

1. This virtual event will be hosted via Zoom Webinar, and you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi connection will be required for best quality.


2. We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature.


3. Please respect that no copying, recording, or distribution of live session content is allowed. CE's are provided for the "live" sessions only. CE's will not be available for the recordings.

Monogamy and Its Alternatives -- Pair-Bonding, Ethics, and Cultures of Sexuality in the 21st Century
You Have Completed This course
$50.00 - $85.00
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    3
  • Type
    Live Interactive Webinar
  • Date
    Fri Oct 3rd, 2025
  • Time
    01:00pm - 04:00pm EDT

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